Volunteer

BCHS has a small, dedicated staff that oversees the daily operations of our animal shelter.  We rely on our volunteers, who donate many talents, to help us provide the best care for the animals entrusted to us, to assist with our programs, to spread awareness of our mission, and to raise funds to support our organization.

Volunteer Opportunities at the Shelter

Volunteers at the shelter must be at least 15 years old (18 years old for dog walkers). The following roles require a commitment of the same day of the week every week (or every/other week) for at least 3 months. For example, every Tuesday afternoon or every/other Tuesday afternoon.

Dog Walker – Dog walkers are scheduled in the afternoons between 1-4, and shifts last at least 3 hours. Because we are a smaller shelter, dog walkers need to be physically comfortable handling most breeds and sizes of dogs. Volunteers need to commit to a weekly or every/other week shift on the same day.

Morning Animal Care – Animal care volunteers are scheduled in the mornings from 9-12. Volunteers help staff clean the animal condos and kennels, provide fresh food/water/litter, and get the rooms ready for when the shelter opens at noon. Volunteers need to commit to a weekly or every/other week shift on the same day.

Shelter Assistant – Volunteers come to the shelter weekly or every/other week from 12-5 to assist with various tasks around the shelter. This may involve doing laundry, greeting visitors, washing dishes, cleaning, making adoption packets, or whatever else the staff needs help with.

Cat Biography Writer – spend time with the new cats at the shelter and write biographies for use on Petfinder and other adoption sites.

Handy-person – Volunteer a few hours a week to help with various repairs and maintenance projects around the shelter. Hours are very flexible, but a commitment of a few hours each week is needed.

Fill out a Volunteer Application

Volunteer Opportunities Away From the Shelter

The majority of our volunteers work outside of the shelter, helping with special events, working on committees, attending off-site adoption events, serving on the board of directors, and many more crucial tasks. Some of the opportunities include:

• Special events volunteer – Check our events page for upcoming dates.
• Petco cats – help care for adoptable cats at the Petco in Bloomington
• Fundraising – work with our development manager on special fundraising projects
• Marketing – be part of our marketing team, helping with writing, outreach events, photography, graphic design, and more.
• Special projects – join our list of volunteers who come to help on random special projects as needed. Everything from painting to landscaping, to heavy lifting. We’ll contact you when we have a need, you let us know if you’re available.

Fill out a Volunteer Application

Foster Care Volunteers

The BCHS foster program is designed to place shelter animals into temporary homes where they can grow, heal, socialize, and become/remain adoptable while they wait for their “forever home”. As a foster care volunteer, you will give every animal a better chance at a new life.

Learn about becoming a Foster Care Volunteer

Youth Volunteer Opportunities

If you are under 15 years old you will not be able to volunteer at the shelter. However, there are many ways in which you can still volunteer and help the animals.

Learn more about our Youth Volunteer opportunities

Court Mandated Community Service

Community service workers are not allowed to work with the shelter animals. Our community service program mostly involves cleaning and other shelter and kennel duties.

Request Court Mandated Community Service hours

To learn more, fill out an application online
or email our Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@bchumane.org